Hydraulic well pump



April 14, 1964 R. o. DULANEY HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. VCV/420 O l/LA/VEK April 14, 1964 R. o. DULANEY 3,128,675

HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP `Filed Dec. l, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oooooooo INVENTOR ,Q/cwep o. 004 4MB;

R. o. DULANEY HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP FIG.

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April 14, 1964 Filed DSC.

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Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,128,675 HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP Richard 0. Dulaney, 1403 Continental National Bank Bldg., Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Dec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 156,308 6 Claims. (Cl. 91-176) This invention relates to a novel hydraulic well pump.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple, eflicient, and relatively low-cost pump of the kind indicated, the cost of operation of which is substantially less than for present mechanically operated pumps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulic pump of the character indicated above comprising a walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on a fixed Samson post, which is rocked by means of pivoted hydraulic rams, located at opposite sides of the Samson post, the connections of the rams with the walking beam being adjustable for balancing the up and down strokes of the walking beam, and for changing the relative speeds thereof, with accompanying savings in fuel or power costs, and increases in leverage.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of a hydraulic pump of the present invention, showing the walking beam in median or horizontal position, and with a well string secured to its forward horsehead;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary kend elevation taken from the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE l, showing details of the distributing valve;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through the valve operating ram showing a drive position of its piston;

FIGURE 8 is a View like FIGURE 7, showing the piston in driven position; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on v the line 9 9 of FIGURE l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated pump comprises an open rectangular angleiron base frame 10, having side members 12 and end members 14, and a central longitudinal T-cross section member 16 extending between and secured to the end members 14. A central Samson post 18 rises from the frame and comprises two pairs of upwardly and laterally inwardly convergent angle legs 20 which are suitably xed, at their lower ends, to the frame side members 12, and cross members 22, at points equally spaced from the The pairs of legs 20 also converge upwardly and longitudinally inwardly toward `each other, and are xed, as by means of bolts 24, to the lby means of bolts 32, at the corners of the base plate 30, to related lateral portions 34 of the lower flange 36 of an eye-beam walking beam 38, at the midlength point of the walking beam.

The walking beam 38 has a forward horsehead 40, to

which is securable, as indicated at 42, a well pumping string 44; and a rear horsehead 46 to which is secured, as indicated at 48, the cable 50 of a counterbalance weight 52.

A rear or downstroke hydraulic ram 54 has, on its lower end, an ear 56 which is pivotally secured on a bearing pin 58, between the upstanding arms 60 of a clevis 62 having a base plate 64, xed, as by means of bolts 66, upon the upper flange 68 of a channel iron 70 secured to the outer side of the rear end member 14 of the frame 10. The ram 54 has an upstanding ear 70, on its upper end, which is pivoted on a bearing pin 72, between the pendant arms 74 of a clevis 76 having a base plate '78 fixed, as by means of bolts 80, to the underside of the lower ange 36 of the walking beam 38, between the Samson post 18 and the rear horsehead 46. The flange 36 is formed with longitudinal rows of adjustment bolt holes 82, as shown in FIGURE 9, for selectively receiving the bolts 80. As indicated in FIGURE l, adjustment of the upper end of the ram 54 toward the Samson post 18 speeds the downstroke of the walking beam 38, and adjustment thereof toward the rear horsehead 46 decelerates the downstroke of the walking beam.

A forward or upstroke ram 84, similar to the rear rarn S4, is similarly pivoted, at its lower end, on the forward frame end member 14, and at its upper end, to the lower ange 36 of the walking beam 38, at a selected point between the Samson post 18 and the forward horsehead 40. The upstroke of the walking beam can be decelerated by adjusting the bearing assembly of the forward ram 84 forwardly on the Walking beam, and accelerated by adjusting this bearing assembly rearwardly toward the Samson post 18. The separate or individual adjustability of the ram bearing assemblies along the walking beam 38 provides for easy and accurate balancing of the oscillation of the walking beam, for ecient and economical operation of the pump.

The rams 54 and 84 are similar in construction, and comprise, as shown in FIGURE 2, lower cylinders 86, having upper ends 88, and being closed, at their lower ends, by flanged screw plugs 90, of which the bearing ears l56 are a part. The upper parts of the lower cylinders 86 work through stuffing boxes 92, on the open lower ends of the upper cylinders 94, into the upper cylinders. The upper cylinders 94 are closed, at their upper ends, by

`flanged screw plugs 96, of which the upper bearing ears 70 are a part. Posts 98 are provided in the side walls of the upper cylinders 94, near their upper ends, in which upper hose nipples are fixed, and ports 102 are provided in the side walls of the lower cylinders 86, in which lower hose nipples 104 are xed. Upper and lower flexible hoses 106 and 108 are connected with the nipples 100 and 104 and lead to a distributing valve assembly, generally des-l ignated 110.

The distributing valve assembly 110 comprises a longitudinal horizontal tubular valve Ihousing 112, in 'vertical alignment with the walking beam and spaced therebe'low. As shown i-n FIGURES 5 and 6, the valve housing 112 is closed, at its rear and forward ends, by similar rear and forwardscrew plugs 116 and 1118, respectively, which terminate iin reduced nipples 120 and 122, to` which flexible rear and forward hoses 124 and 126, respectively are connected, which lead to an upstanding vertical valve operator 128. The valve housing 112 is suitably supported on and spaced above an inverted longitudinal support channel 1,14, which is disposed between the Samson post legs 20 and rest securably upon cross bars 130 extending between and secured to the outer sides of the pairs of legs.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the valve operator 128 comprises an outer cylinder 132 closed, at its lower end, by a cap 134 having a lateral lnipple 136 thereon,

the cap 134 having a pendant bearing lug 138 pivoted, as indicated at 140, between the arms 142 of a bearing clevis 144, bolted, as indicated at 146, upon the channel 114, in front of the Samson post 18. The outer cylinder 132 is closed, at tis upper end, by .a plug 1148 having an axial bore 150 extending therethrough, through 'which a piston rod 152 work-s, through a packing gland 154. The side wall of the outer cylinder 132 is provided with vertically spaced upper and lower lateral nipples 156 and 158, to which the rear and forward hoses 124 and 126, leading from the distributing valve housing 112, are severally connected.

The valve operator 128 further comprises an inner cylinder or hollow piston 160, shorter than the outer cylinder 2132 and sliding therein. The inner cylinder 160 has an open lower end 162 and is closed, at its upper end, by a plug 164 having vents 165 therethrough, to which the lower end of the piston rod 152 is secured, as indicated at 166. At a midlength point the side wall 168 of the inner cylinder 160 is formed therearound with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced perforations 170, which, in the extreme downward position of the inner cylinder, register with the lower `nipple 158, in the drive position of the actuating valve 128, and which register with the upper nipple 156, in the extreme elevated driven positions of the inner cylinder, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, respectively.

The piston rod 152 is pivoted, at its upper end, as shown in FIGURE 1, to the lower flange 36 of the walking beam 38, by means of a pivot bearing 153 having a plate 155 engaged with the underside of the flange 36 and secured adjustably in place by bolts 157 selectively engaged through rows of holes (not shown) provided in the ange 36.

The operation of the valve operator 128 by rocking the walking beam 38 produces corresponding positionings of a core 172 in the distributing valve housing 112. The housing 112 is provided, on its side Wall, with intermediate rear and forward ram actuating nipples 174 and 176, respectively, on one side thereof, to lwhich the upper ram hoses 106 are connected, and with Irear and forward intermediate nipples `178 and 180, respectively, aligned with the nipples 174 and 176, to which hydraulic pump line branches 182 and 184 are severally connected, which lead from a pump line 186.

The side wall of the distributing valve housing 112 is further provided on its opposite sides, with aligned rear and forward nipples, which include nipples 180 and 190, on one side, to which the lower ram hoses 108 are severally connected; and nipples 192 and 194, to which branches 1196 and 198 of a iluid return hose 200 are connected. A hose 202 leads from the pump line 186 to the lower nipples 158 of the actuating valve 128. The core 172 is shorter than the distance between the plugs 116 and 118, and is smooth and unindented except yfor rear and forward annular end grooves 173 and 175, spaced from the ends of the core, and from each other at a distance greater than the distance between the end nipples 188, 192 and 190, 194, and intermediate rear and forward annular grooves 177 and 179 spaced from each other at a distance less than the distance between lthe intermediate nipples 174, 178 and 176, 180. Bleed grooves 181 and `183 are provided in the core 172 between the grooves 173 and 175 and the ends of the core.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the valve operator 128 is adapted to be Iadjusted toward and away from the Samson post 18, through the provision of rows of bolt holes 204 in the web 206 of the channel 114 `and similar bolt holes (not shown) in the flange 36 of the walking beam 38, between the Samson post 18 and the forward ram 84, so that the position of the actuating valve relative to adjusted positions of the rams can be adjusted, for full operation of the actuating valve.

In operation, fluid pressure being supplied through the hose 186, to one of the distributing valve nipples 174,

176, uid passes through the distributing valve 4110 to one of the nipples 178, 180, and thence to the upper nipples of one of the rams 54, 84, whereby such ram is expanded upwardly, so as to rock the walking beam 38 in either a downstroke or 4an Iupstroke, and thereby either depress or elevate the piston of the valve operator 128. This produces a shift of the core 172 of the distributing valve assembly to a position in which uid under pressure is supplied to the lower nipple 104 of a related ram and discharge of fluid to the return line 200 from the other ram, so that the walking beam is rocked in the opposite direction from the initial rocking. This cycle is repeated alternately, so that the walking beam 38 is continuously rocked in downstrokes and upstrokes until the fluid under pressure coming through the line 186 is cut olf.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic Well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on the `base, a generally horizontal walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking beam, a counterbalance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted to the walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between -the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected to the distributing valve means and to the val-ve operator, and a uid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means.

2. A hydraulic well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on the base, a generally horizontal walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking beam, a counterbalance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted to the walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected to the distributing valve means and to the valve operator, and a fluid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means, said distributing valve means comprising a movable core having ports and a housing having ports in which the core is movable in one direction by pressure produced by the valve operator and in the opposite direction by pressure produced by the valve operator, in different positions of the valve operator.

3. A hydraulic well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on 'the base, a generally horizontal Walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking beam, a counterbalance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted lto the walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected to the distributing valve means and to the valve operator, and a fluid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means, said distributing valve means comprising a movable core having ports and a housing having ports in which the core is movable in one direction by pressure produced by the valve operator and in the opposite direction by pressure produced by the valve operator, in different positions of the valve operator, said means for connecting the rams to the walking beam at dilferent locations toward and away from the Samson post.

4. A hydraulic well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on the base, a generally horizontal walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking beam, a counterbalance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted to -the 'walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected to the distributing Valve means and to the valve operator, and a fluid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means, said distributing valve means comprising a movable core having ports and a housing having ports in which the core is movable in one direction by pressure produced by the valve operator and in the opposite direction by pressure produced by the valve operator, in diierent positions of the valve operator, said means for connecting the rams to the walking beam at different locations toward and away from the Samson post, and other means `for connecting the valve operator to :the base and to the walking beam, at different distances from the Samson post.

5. A hydraulic well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on the base, a generally horizontal walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking lbeam, a counterbalance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted to the walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the 'walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected to the distributing valve means and to the valve operator, and a fluid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means, said distributing valve means comprising a movable core having ports and a housing having ports in which the core is movable in one direction by pressure produced by the valve operator and in the opposite direction by pressure produced by the Valve operator, in different positions of the valve operator, said means for connecting the rams to the walking beam at different locations toward and away from the Samson post, and other means for connecting the valve operator to the base and to the walking beam, at different distances from the Samson post, said core being endwise movable in the housing, said valve operator comprising an outer cylinder having closed upper and lower ends and an open lower end, an inner cylinder working in lthe outer cylinder having an open lower end and a closed and vented upper end, a piston rod secured to the inner cylinder working through the upper end of the outer cylinder and pivoted to the walking beam, said outer cylinder having upper and lower ports in its side wall severally connected to opposite ends of the distributing valve housing, said inner cylinder having a port registrable at different times with the upper and lower ports.

6. -A hydraulic well pump comprising a base, an upstanding Samson post on the base, a generally horizontal walking beam pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a well string secured to one end of the walking beam, a counterba-lance weight secured on the other end of the walking beam, vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic rams pivoted to the walking beam at opposite sides of the Samson post and pivoted on the base, distributing valve means connected between the rams, a vertically extensible and contractible hydraulic valve operator pivoted to the walking beam at one side of said post and pivoted on said post, a hydraulic return line connected -to the distributing valve means and to the valve operator, and a fluid pressure line leading to the distributing valve means, said distributing valve means comprising a movable core having ports and a housing having ports in which the core is movable in one direction by pressure produced by the valve operator and in the opposite direction by pressure produced by the valve operator, :in dilerent positions of the valve operator, the core ports and housing ports being longitudinally spaced from each other, said means for connecting the rams to the walking beam at different locations toward and away from the Samson post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,719 Thompson Dec. 8, 1868 847,219 Akers Mar. 12, 1907 2,200,790 Eckert May 14, 1940 2,780,063 Bacchi Feb. 5, 1957 

1. A HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP COMPRISING A BASE, AN UPSTANDING SAMSON POST ON THE BASE, A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL WALKING BEAM PIVOTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS ON THE POST, A WELL STRING SECURED TO ONE END OF THE WALKING BEAM, A COUNTERBALANCE WEIGHT SECURED ON THE OTHER END OF THE WALKING BEAM, VERTICALLY EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE HYDRAULIC RAMS PIVOTED TO THE WALKING BEAM AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SAMSON POST AND PIVOTED ON THE BASE, DISTRIBUTING VALVE MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE RAMS, A VERTICALLY EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE HYDRAULIC VALVE OPERATOR PIVOTED TO THE WALKING BEAM AT ONE SIDE OF SAID POST AND PIVOTED ON SAID POST, A HYDRAULIC RETURN LINE CONNECTED TO THE DISTRIBUTING VALVE MEANS AND TO THE VALVE OPERATOR, AND A FLUID PRESSURE LINE LEADING TO THE DISTRIBUTING VALVE MEANS. 